पूर्वां दिशं वज्रधरो दक्षिणां पातु ते यमः। वरुणः पश्चिमामाशां धनेशस्तूत्तरां दिशम्
May Indra protect you in the east, Yama in the south, Varuna in the west, and Kubera in the north.
अथ सीतामनुज्ञाप्य कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः। निश्चक्राम सुमन्त्रेण सह रामो निवेशनात्
Then, having taken leave of Sita, who had performed auspicious rites, Rama departed from the residence together with Sumanta.
पर्वतादिव निष्क्रम्य सिंहो गिरिगुहाशयः। लक्ष्मणं द्वारि सोऽपश्यत् प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम्
Emerging like a lion from a mountain cave, he saw Lakshmana at the door, standing with joined palms in reverence.
अथ मध्यमकक्ष्यायां समागच्छत् सुहृज्जनैः। स सर्वानर्थिनो दृष्ट्वा समेत्य प्रतिनन्द्य च
Then, in the middle chamber, as he approached, surrounded by friends, he saw all the petitioners, greeted them, and welcomed them.
ततः पावकसंकाशमारुरोह रथोत्तमम्। वैयाघ्रं पुरुषव्याघ्रो राजितं राजनन्दनः
Then the tiger among men, the delight of the king, ascended the splendid chariot, radiant like fire.
मेघनादमसम्बाधं मणिहेमविभूषितम्। मुष्णन्तमिव चक्षूंषि प्रभया मेरुवर्चसम्
It thundered like a cloud, was adorned with jewels and gold, and shone with a brilliance rivaling Mount Meru, dazzling the eyes.
करेणुशिशुकल्पैश्च युक्तं परमवाजिभिः। हरियुक्तं सहस्राक्षो रथमिन्द्र इवाशुगम्
Drawn by excellent horses resembling young elephants, swift as the wind, yoked with green steeds, it was like Indra's chariot driven by the thousand-eyed god.
प्रययौ तूर्णमास्थाय राघवो ज्वलितः श्रिया। स पर्जन्य इवाकाशे स्वनवानभिनादयन्
Rāghava, ablaze with splendor, mounted quickly and departed, resounding like a rain cloud in the sky.
निकेतान्निर्ययौ श्रीमान् महाभ्रादिव चन्द्रमाः। चित्रचामरपाणिस्तु लक्ष्मणो राघवानुजः
The illustrious prince left his residence like the moon emerging from great clouds, attended by Lakṣmaṇa, his brother, holding a decorated fan.
जुगोप भ्रातरं भ्राता रथमास्थाय पृष्ठतः। ततो हलहलाशब्दस्तुमुलः समजायत
Lakṣmaṇa, having mounted the chariot behind, protected his brother; then a tumultuous sound arose.
तस्य निष्क्रममाणस्य जनौघस्य समन्ततः। ततो हयवरा मुख्या नागाश्च गिरिसंनिभाः
As he departed, crowds of people gathered all around; then the finest horses and elephants, massive as mountains, followed.
अनुजग्मुस्तथा रामं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। अग्रतश्चास्य संनद्धाश्चन्दनागुरुभूषिताः
Thus, hundreds and thousands followed Rāma; in front marched warriors adorned with sandalwood and aloe.
खड्गचापधराः शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः। ततो वादित्रशब्दाश्च स्तुतिशब्दाश्च वन्दिनाम्
Brave men bearing swords and bows went forward, full of hope; then arose sounds of instruments and praises from bards.
सिंहनादाश्च शूराणां ततः शुश्रुविरे पथि। हर्म्यवातायनस्थाभिर्भूषिताभिः समन्ततः
Lion-like roars of the heroes were heard along the road, from women adorned and standing at palace windows all around.
कीर्यमाणः सुपुष्पौघैर्ययौ स्त्रीभिररिंदमः। रामं सर्वानवद्याङ्ग्यो रामपिप्रीषया ततः
The destroyer of foes proceeded, showered with abundant flowers by women; Rāma, flawless in every limb, delighted them.
वचोभिरग्र्यैर्हर्म्यस्थाः क्षितिस्थाश्च ववन्दिरे। नूनं नन्दति ते माता कौसल्या मातृनन्दन
Those in palaces and on the ground honored Rāma with excellent words: 'Surely your mother Kausalyā rejoices, O delight of mothers.'
पश्यन्ती सिद्धयात्रं त्वां पित्र्यं राज्यमुपस्थितम्। सर्वसीमन्तिनीभ्यश्च सीतां सीमन्तिनीं वराम्
'Seeing you achieve the successful journey and the ancestral kingdom, and Sītā, the foremost among noble women, among all noble wives.'
अमन्यन्त हि ता नार्यो रामस्य हृदयप्रियाम्। तया सुचरितं देव्या पुरा नूनं महत् तपः
Those women regarded Sītā, beloved to Rāma's heart, as the best among noble ladies; surely the queen had performed great austerity in the past.
रोहिणीव शशाङ्केन रामसंयोगमाप या। इति प्रासादशृङ्गेषु प्रमदाभिर्नरोत्तमः। शुश्राव राजमार्गस्थः प्रिया वाच उदाहृताः
She attained union with Rāma as Rohiṇī with the moon; thus, the best of men heard sweet words spoken by women from palace towers as he proceeded along the royal road.
स राघवस्तत्र तदा प्रलापान् शुश्राव लोकस्य समागतस्य। आत्माधिकारा विविधाश्च वाचः प्रहृष्टरूपस्य पुरे जनस्य
There, Rāghava heard the conversations of the gathered people, various words expressing their own thoughts, from the joyful citizens in the city.
एष श्रियं गच्छति राघवोऽद्य राजप्रसादाद् विपुलां गमिष्यन्। एते वयं सर्वसमृद्धकामा येषामयं नो भविता प्रशास्ता
'Today Rāghava attains prosperity, about to receive abundant royal favor; we all will have every fulfilled desire, for he will be our ruler.'
लाभो जनस्यास्य यदेष सर्वं प्रपत्स्यते राष्ट्रमिदं चिराय। न ह्यप्रियं किंचन जातु कश्चित् पश्येन्न दुःखं मनुजाधिपेऽस्मिन्
'It is a blessing for the people that he will govern this kingdom for a long time; under this lord of men, no one will ever see anything unpleasant or experience sorrow.'
स घोषवद्भिश्च हयैः सनागैः पुरःसरैः स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः। महीयमानः प्रवरैश्च वादकै- रभिष्टुतो वैश्रवणो यथा ययौ
Accompanied by horses neighing like a village, with elephants, and preceded by auspicious bards and heralds, honored by the finest musicians, he proceeded, praised as Vaiśravaṇa would be.
करेणुमातङ्गरथाश्वसंकुलं महाजनौघैः परिपूर्णचत्वरम्। प्रभूतरत्नं बहुपण्यसंचयं ददर्श रामो विमलं महापथम्
Rama beheld the great highway, crowded with elephants, chariots, horses, and throngs of people, its crossroads filled, abundant in gems and rich in many wares, shining pure.
thumb|सप्तदशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the seventeenth chapter be heard.
स रामो रथमास्थाय सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः। पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नं महार्हागुरुधूपितम्
Rama mounted the chariot, surrounded by joyful friends, adorned with banners and flags, and perfumed with costly incense.
अपश्यन्नगरं श्रीमान् नानाजनसमन्वितम्। स गृहैरभ्रसंकाशैः पाण्डुरैरुपशोभितम्
The illustrious Rama gazed upon the city, teeming with people, its houses shining pale like clouds.
राजमार्गं ययौ रामो मध्येनागुरुधूपितम्। चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगुरूणां च संचयैः
Rama proceeded along the royal road, its center scented with incense, and lined with heaps of sandalwood and aloe.
उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकौशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैः स्फाटिकैरपि
There were the finest fragrances, silks of linen and cotton, and pearls unpierced, along with exquisite crystals.
शोभमानमसम्बाधं तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैः पुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि
He saw that splendid, unobstructed royal road, covered with various flowers and foods, both high and low.